Families still desperately awaiting news on missing South Shields teenagers

The families of two teenagers from South Tyneside are desperately waiting for news after they went missing folowing the Manchester suicide bomb blast.

Chloe Rutherford, 17, of Marsden, South Shields and her boyfriend Liam Curry, 19, of Biddick Hall, South Shields, were at the concert on Monday night and their frantic families are appealing for information about the pair.

Liam Curry, who took part in charity bike ride

Chloe’s brother, Scott Rutherford, posted on Facebook: “We’re off to Manchester as a family to hopefully collect our two most precious people wherever they are. Stay strong, we’re coming for you! Both our families love you so much, Thank you for everyone’s continued support, don’t know any more for now.”

Earlier he quashed rumours that the pair had been found, saying on his Facebook page: “Anyone getting news about them being found is untrue we haven’t been told anything from both Manchester police or Northumbria police, so whatever you’re reading isn’t true.”

An explosion at the entrance to the Manchester Arena claimed the lives of 22 people – including an eight-year-old girl – and injured another 59, after a concert by American singing star Ariana Grande.

Both families said they wished to make no comment last night.

Chloe Rutherford after she landed a part in Annie at the Theatre Royal Newcastle in 2012

Bernard Wills, 36, the cousin of Mr Curry’s father, said: “They are a great young couple, really loving, with a bright future ahead and there’s nobody that doesn’t like them. I’m sure there’s a valid reason for them not getting in touch, people were dropping their phones as they were leaving or they’ve lost the battery on their phone.”

Chloe is a talented actress and singer – having taken part in a production of Annie at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal at ther age of just 12.

Liam undertook a 260-mile cycle ride to Paris when he was 15 to raise cash for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Last night, armed officers raided the address of bombing suspect Salman Abedi, ordering residents indoors as they carried out a controlled explosion.

Elsmore Road, where Abedi was registered as living, became the centre of the investigation into Monday’s outrage as detectives hunted those thought to be behind the blast.